Vehicle lift



Nov. 23, 1954 Filed Dec. 15. 1953 A. H. YORDI VEHICLE LIFT 2Sheets-Sheet l Ar/hur 64 yard/ INVENTOR.

Arm wiy Nov.- 23, 1954 A. H. YORDI 2,695,076 VEHICLE LIFT Filed Dec. 15.1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4/754 6 yard/ 6 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY ftiee Patented Nov. 23, 1954 VEHICLE LIFT Arthur H. Yordi,Kenosha, Wis. Application December 15, 1953, Serial-No. 398,264" 7Ciaims. (Cl. 187-8.41)

This invention relates to a vehicle lift particularly adapted for usewhen repairing or lubricating-a vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle lifthaving an elevated work platform which will allow mechanics to have fullaccess to the upper part of the vehicle, when the vehicle is in itselevated or lifted position, as- Well as to the underneath part foreffecting repair and lubricating operations.

It is another object of the invention to provide a vehicle lift whereinguard rails will be lifted with the vehicle by its hoistso as to havethem out of the way when the vehicle is in its lifted position and toallow full access from an elevated platform to the vehicle and whereinthe elevated platform will be guarded when the vehicle is lowered to theground position and away from the elevated platform, the guard railsbeing available at a time when the vehicle is lowered to prevent themechanic or others from falling from the elevated platform.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a vehicle liftstructure an overhead suspension which can be elevated and from whichthe vehicle can be suspended by block and tackle means connected to thevehicle at the respective opposite ends thereof so that at least one endof the vehicle can be retained in an elevated position independently ofwheel supporting tracks of the lift, added access being given themechanic to the vehicle and without the interference of the tracks ofthe lift, and wherein the guard rails form a part of the overheadstructure so as to then be elevated therewith to an out-of-way positionwhen the vehicle is elevated by the lift.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a vehicle repair andlubrication lift structure having the above objects in mind which is ofsimple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number ofparts, rugged and secure, of pleasing appearance, easy to operate, andconvenient and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, referencemay be had to the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a vehicle mounted on a hydrauliclift and the lift in its lowered position with the inner guard rails inplace on the elevated platform and the upper structure being in itslowered position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure with the upperstructure elevated and the vehicle in its raised position and connectedto block and tackle means at one end, the inner guard rails beingelevated with the upper structure and the vehicle so easy access can behad to the top of the vehicle from the elevated platform.

Referring now to the figures, generally represents the standardhydraulic vehicle lifting hoist having spaced wheel supports 11 and 12over which the vehicle wheels are driven to locate vehicle 13 upon thehoist 10. The respective tracks 11 and 12 have respectively upwardlyextending inner guide rails 14 and 15. The tracks 11 and 12 are joinedtogether by a transverse member 16 to which a hydraulic hoist cylinderdevice 17 is connected. Above the track hoist 10 and elevated from theground is a U-shaped platform 19 held in a fixed manner and in itselevated position by six vertical supports 20, engaging with the outeredge of the platform and three such posts being longitudinally spacedfrom one another along each side of the platform. Each post 29 has afixed guard rail support extending upwardly therefrom as indicated at 21and between which extend fixed parallel spaced and vertically spacedguard rails 22 and 23. The front posts have inwardly extending guardrail projections 24 to prevent an attendant from Walking off the frontend of the platform. Full length guard rails. extend across the oppositeend of the platform and between the twoend guiderails support 21 at thatlocation.

In order to gain access to the platform, see Fig. 2, there is anopening25 at the-rear end of the platform with which steps 26communicate A rail 27 is disposed along one side of the opening 25' anda swing gate 23 is. located in front of the opening and the rail 27.This guards the opening 25 to prevent the mechanic from fallingtherethrough while working. on the top of the platform 19; A step ladder29 can be left on the rear of the platform 19 for use when desired andcan be moved over the platform to difierent locations along the side ofthe car. On the ground floor a work bench 341 is shown lying in back ofthe stairs or steps 26, Fig. 2.

Movable relative to the platform and adapted tov be lifted by the trackhoist device lib is an overhanging structure indicated generally at 31.This structure comprises four depending supports 32, see Fig. 1, thatare slidable through the platform and respectively through supportbearings 33 which may be sleeve type as shown, on the top of theplatform 19. These rods or support members 32 are elevated by the trackhoist device 1 3 as the hoist device is movedupwardly with the vehicle13 to position the vehicle at an elevationadjacent the platform 19, asshown in Fig. 2. The vehicle 13-will have been driven-on to the trackhoist 10 in the usual manner and made secure thereon against rollingmovement. The elevation of the track hoist takes upwardly the upperoverhanging structure 31. This upper structure has curved tie members 35and 36 oining pairs of supports 32 at the front end of the device and atthe rear end respectively. An intermediate curved member 37 is connectedbetween the vertically movable rod members 32 by inner guide rails 38and will be taken upwardly by the guide rails which interconnect theupper ends of the vertically movable rod members 32.

The curved members 35, 36 and 37 are joined together by a longitudinallyextending pulley track member 39 over which a pulley hoist device 40 canbe adjusted to engage either the rear end of the vehicle or the forwardend of the vehicle in the manner illustrated. This pulley hoist devicehas a hook 41 adapted to engage with the bumper of the vehicle or someother part thereof and when operated, will elevate the vehicle.

It will be seen that when the upper structure 31 has been elevated theguard rails 38 have been taken upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, so that themechanic will have full access to the top of the vehicle and around thesame when the vehicle has been lifted to the elevation of the platform19.

When the vehicle is lowered by the track hoist device 10, the guardrails 38 will be lowered along with the structure 31 so as to be placedadjacent to the inner edge of the platform 19 to prevent the mechanicfrom failing through the opening.

When the track hoist is raised to elevate the vehicle, the inner guardrails 38 will be elevated above the platform 19 so that they are out ofthe way of the mechanic desiring to Work on the vehicle from theplatform. This makes it possible for two mechanics to work on thevehicle at same time, one from beneath and the other from above, withthe mechanic working from below being in a standing position which ismore comfortable than lying on his back beneath the vehicle. When thevehicle is lowered, the inner guard rails 38 will be lowered to thelevel of the platform to completely enclose the platform with guardrails. The vertical rods 32 pass through the sleeve bearing members 33,which are secured to the top of the platform.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle lift construction comprising a track hoist device adaptedto receive a vehicle, an elevated platform having an opening thereinthrough which the vehicle can be elevated, vertical supports forsupporting the platform in its elevated position, outer guard rail meanson the top of said platform, a vertically movable structure adapted tobear against having inner guard rail means adapted to surround theopening when said structure is in its lowered position, said verticallymovable structure connected to the track hoist device to be lifted bythe same to elevate the inner guard rails as the vehicle is elevatedthrough the opening to a position at the level of the platform, wherebyaccess can be had to the vehicle from above and beneath at the sametime.

2. A vehicle lift construction as defined in claim 1, and said platformbeing of U-shape with access to the opening being through one end of theplatform, the vehicle being movable onto the hoist at the open end ofthe platform, a set of steps communicating with the closed rear end ofthe platform, said rear end of the platform having an opening throughwhich one traversing the steps may pass to gain access to the top of theplatform.

3. A vehicle lift construction as defined in claim 1 and said verticallymovable structure further including a plurality of vertical rod members,rod supporting bearings disposed on the top of the platform and adaptedto respectively accommodate the respective vertical rods, overhangingtie members interconnecting the rods at the front and rear of themovable structure and a longitudinally extending tie member connectingmid-portions of the transverse tie members.

4. A vehicle lift device as defined in claim 3, and said inner guardrail means including an intermediate tie member and guard railsextending between the intermediate tie member and the forward andrearwardly extending rods, said intermediate tie member being engageablewith the top of the platform when the vertically'movable structure is inits lowered position, said intermediate tie memlger being joined to thelongitudinally extending tie mem- 5. A vehicle lift construction asdefined in claim 4, and said longitudinally extending tie member servingas a track, a pulley track hoist movable along said track and having ahook adapted to engage with part of the vehicle to thereby permit thevehicle to be elevated from one end thereof above the track hoist andplatform.

6. A vehicle lift construction as defined in claim 1, and said outerguard rail means including short guard rails extending laterallyinwardly over the forward ends of the platform to cooperate with theinner guard rail means when the inner guard rail means is lowered to itsposition on the top of the platform.

7. In combination a vehicle lift comprising a track hoist device adaptedto receive a vehicle at a first fioor level and operable to raise thevehicle above said first floor level, a platform floor having an openingtherein through which the vehicle can be elevated, vertical supports forsupporting the platform floor in an elevated position relative to saidfirst floor level, a vertically movable structure having guard railmeans adapted to surround the opening when said structure is in itslowered position, said vertically movable structure connected to thetrack hoist device to be lifted by the same to elevate said guard railmeans above said platform floor as the vehicle is elevated through theopening to a position at the level of said platform floor, wherebyaccess can be had to the vehicle from above and beneath at the sametime.

No references cited.

